The New World

by Toby Neighbors

  “If that were true, then why weren’t we affected?” Jason asked.

  “Like any drug, there would be a small percentage of your population that was immune.” The alien turned once again to the jellyfish before he spoke again, “My time is short; they will detect my intrusion into their system soon.”

  “Wait,” said Daniel. “Can my people be awakened from this suspended animation?”

  “Yes, and there is more to discuss. We of the resistance will contact you again soon. Please do not speak to your ambassador of this. And good luck.”

  The picture in the headset faded and Daniel pulled his off. He could hardly believe what he had just heard.

  “Do you believe it?” he asked Jason.

  “I don’t know, we don’t have any proof.”

  “What about what they said about the plague?”

  “Hey, remember our protocol,” Jason said, his head must have been clearing, his speech was back to normal. “You were talking out loud, remember?”

  Daniel silently chastised himself. He needed to talk, but he didn’t know if they were being monitored. Surely they were, it only made sense. He hoped he hadn’t given too much away already.

  “I think we better get some sleep,” he said.

  “That’s probably a good idea, are there beds, you think?”

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders. As he picked up the Claxton and thought about sleeping and touched the screen.

  The table with what remained of the food shifted back down and then another table rose up. On it were what appeared to be blankets and thick pads rolled up like sleeping bags. There were even rectangular shaped foam objects. Daniel guessed these were alien pillows. He picked up one of the rolled up pads and unfurled it. It was extremely soft and with the foam pillow and blanket, which seemed to be made of some kind of woven grass, he was quite comfortable.

  “I don’t guess you know Morse code, do you?” Jason asked.

  “No, sorry.”

  “That’s alright. Sleep while you can. Do you think that it’s possible that we can dim the lights?”

  Daniel picked up the Claxton again and the lights immediately dimmed. The pink sky ceiling and walls showed pinpoints of light like stars in the night sky. It was a peaceful environment, and in other circumstances, Daniel would have fallen asleep easily. He was reminded of camping out, which he had only done a few times in his life. He wished now that he would have been able to ask a few more questions of Coolique. He was sure they were being monitored, but if they could read his thoughts, then they already knew his doubts, and his plans. He was resolved now, even as his rational mind longed for proof of what the furry alien had said, he knew what had to be done. Part of him wanted to help the poor creatures locked inside a space station, watching their world die, but he couldn’t do anything about that. He had his own planet to protect. If anything good could come from a history riddled with war, it would be how to resist an alien plot to enslave them.

  His mind wrestled with unanswered questions for over an hour. Daniel knew he needed a distraction to quiet his mind, and so he thought of Lana. He could see her back on Earth in his mind’s eye. She was standing on the porch of her cabin in the mountains. Her long summer dress was blowing in the wind and her long, brown hair was waving around her face. He dreamed of her when he finally fell asleep, dreams of longing that made his heart ache.

  Chapter 38

  When Daniel awoke, the stars were still shining overhead. It was the only light in the room, and although he knew it could merely be an environmental control, he had no way of knowing that it wasn’t still night on Tolligark. Norixum had said the nights were long, so Daniel rolled over and went back to sleep.

  Sometime later, when Daniel woke up, he knew he had been asleep long enough. His stomach was growling and his mouth felt full of cotton. He rolled to his knees and found the Claxton. His first thought was food, and a table rose with fruit and what looked to Daniel like a protein shake. He picked up the alien fruit, it tasted sour, but it was juicy. He sucked the fruit and then ate the meat off of the rather large seed. His next thought was to see outside, he was tired of the false night sky, and he gave the Claxton another try. This time view screens appeared on either side of the elevator doors. The sky was dark red, and the buildings around them and towering above were dark shades.

  “Is that sky red because it’s dawn or is it always red at night?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know, but I feel like I slept in. I’d say it was due to jetlag, but I don’t guess you get too tired when you travel 400 light years in just one second.”

  “I guess not. Did you figure out the latrine? My eyeballs are floating.”

  “I haven’t seen the tutorial, but the toilet is pretty hard to miss.”

  “I’m going to give it a shot then,” said Jason.

  The door swished open to the brightly lit bathroom, and Daniel sat back down on his sleeping mat. He wished their change of clothes would arrive and decided to give the Claxton another try. This time the table rose up with stacks of what looked like clothes. Daniel picked one up and unfolded it. It was a long, wheat colored tunic. The fabric was different than the material used to make the blanket he had slept with and there was a dark red embroidered hem around the bottom, the cuffs, and the neckline. Folded beneath the tunic was a royal blue robe with no belt.

  Daniel used the headset to learn how to use the sanitation stall, then he took a shower. The amber colored water that sprayed from the many nozzles was hot and smelled fragrant. There was no soap, apparently the water was all the Tolligarkians used. After his shower, Daniel felt immensely better and tried on his new clothes. They were light and comfortable. He had no hair brush or tooth brush, so he used his finger to scrub his teeth with the scented water and then ran his fingers through his hair.

  When he came out of the bathroom, there was light coming in from the view screens, and the ceiling and walls had transformed to a dusky pink color. Jason also cleaned himself up, then they sat quietly, neither of them talking. Each was thinking mostly of what the alien Coolique had told them and wondering how much was true.

  Daniel quickly became bored and decided to try the headset to contact Norixum but was unsuccessful. After an hour or so, the elevator finally opened and their ambassador greeted them.

  “Good morning, I trust you both rested well enough,” Norixum said.

  “Yes, fine,” Daniel said. “What is our agenda for today? Will we meet the supreme commander?”

  “No, I am afraid not. You will, however, be treated to a personal tour through the Hall of Achievement, and if there is time we may see more of the capital city.”

  “No offense,” Jason said, “but we didn’t come here to sightsee.”

  “It’s alright, Jason,” Daniel said before Norixum could reply. “The supreme commander is very busy, I’m sure.” Daniel turned to Norixum. “When are we scheduled to meet him?”

  The small alien was silent for a moment before finally speaking. “You should get an audience with the supreme commander tomorrow, if all goes well.”

  “Excellent,” Daniel said. “Let’s see this museum of yours.”

  Norixum seemed to accept Daniel’s enthusiasm as genuine, and they all boarded the elevator. They went back down, further this time than where the shuttle was docked. When they left the elevator they were in an immense room filled with circular columns that seemed to be made of marble. They had a dark red hue, but were buffed to a high shine.

  Norixum’s floating cushion led them through the forest of pillars and onto a long walkway bordered on either side by trees with rust colored trunks and purple leaves that were long and slender, like spear heads. The limbs of the trees swayed, although Daniel could feel no wind. The walkway was made of black tile that gleamed underfoot. Daniel was wearing wingtip shoes with black socks that made him feel goofy in contrast to the elegant robe he was wearing. There was a strip of pasty white leg between the dark hem of his tunic and his black socks. But Jason was w
earing combat boots which laced high up his shin and looked at least as awkward as Daniel’s dress shoes.

  They passed several towers but no people, which Daniel found odd. Even if the capital was reserved for the rich and powerful, there would still need to be a large population of service personnel.

  Finally they arrived at a long, rectangular building that reminded Daniel of a temple. There were no stairs that Daniel had seen, only ramps. They walked up a rather steep ramp into the building and found themselves in a world of vivid color. There were bright video displays all along the walls. And the floor was painted with a huge artistic mural, as if the Sistine Chapel had been turned upside down.

  “This is the Hall of Achievement,” said Norixum. “Each of the audio displays has been programmed with your language. I will return for you when you are finished, you have only to press this icon on the communications unit.” He pointed to a golden star on what looked like the console of a video phone unit.

  “Thank you, this is fine,” said Daniel.

  Norixum floated away and Daniel turned to Jason.

  “Shall we?” he said, waving his arm at the long corridor of the museum.

  ***

  It took almost four hours, and by the time they had finished with the first floor, they were both tired and hungry.

  “Should we call our floating escort?” Jason asked as they sat on a low wall near the entrance.

  “I’m not sure,” Daniel said. “We didn’t make it upstairs.”

  “My brain is full,” said Jason. “I don’t know this much Earth history. I don’t think I can take a second level.”

  “I agree, besides, I’m liable to puke if I hear much more about the glorious Federation of Free People.”

  Daniel walked over to the communications console and started to push the star icon to call Norixum, but before he could, the screen flickered. An image came up of a familiar, furry face. In Daniel’s head, he heard the alien called Coolique speaking to him.

  “I hope that my intrusion is not unwelcome,” said the alien.

  “No,” thought Daniel. “Can you hear me?”

  “Yes, your neuro waves are strong.”

  “Thanks, but I have a few questions for you. Can the Tolligarkians read our minds?”

  “No, they are not that perceptive. My race is capable and we are often used for that purpose, but I do not sense that you are being read at this moment.”

  “Does that mean that you can know what we are planning to do?”

  “No, we can only perceive what you are thinking at the moment. The mind is not an open data source.”

  “Good, is there a way for Jason and me to communicate without being overheard?”

  “That is a good question,” said the alien, his round mouth dilating with thought. “I believe it is possible if you were both at communications consoles, but it would be difficult to find one that is not being observed.”

  “That’s what I figured.”

  “Have you given thought to what I told you?” asked Coolique.

  “Yes, but I’m still not sure how we could manage it.”

  “Yes, I understand. I can do little more than give you technology, but you must compose your own strategy. I know very little of your world, and even less about warfare.”

  “So who are you people?” Daniel asked.

  “We are a secret society working to cripple the Federation from within. I’m afraid my race is lost, we have no hospitable world to return to and we are hopelessly dependent on Tolligarkian technology. But we do not wish to see other worlds brought into bondage. And if we can disrupt the system enough, perhaps a change in government will give my people more freedom. I’m afraid equality and peace is all that we can hope for.”

  “I don’t understand; if you have technology and your race is allowed to live, why do you feel you’re in bondage? What is life like for you?”

  “The stations that my people occupy are not like the capital city, they are old and riddled with problems, from sanitation to environmental controls. Hundreds die every day from inadequate living conditions and lack of proper medical care. And our children are drafted forcibly to serve in the Federation’s army. My race is dying, as fewer and fewer of those drafted return. The Federation has increased benefits for those having children, but it is difficult to bring a young one into a world only to see them pressed into violent service from which so many never return.”

  “That’s horrible,” Daniel said. Anger was rising up in him, but he had no way to deal with it so he pressed it down. He would have to keep up a good poker face when he saw Norixum again. It was expected that a foreign ambassador would gloss over a few flaws, but if what Coolique was saying was true, then Norixum was outright lying. He would be a fool not to fight back, to protect Earth from the Federation, no matter what the cost.

  “So, can you manage to return to the Hall of Achievement?” asked the furry alien. “I can leave a data chip for you.”

  “Yeah, I’ll manage that. What will I need to be able to access the data?”

  “A basic data reader would work. Tolligarkians use them to store data and read data recorded by others.”

  “Do they have files on history? Do they read these data readers like books?”

  “If I am understanding you correctly, yes.”

  “Alright, then, I’m on it. When can I speak to you again?”

  “I will contact you when it is safe. You shall hear my name in your mind again.”

  “Okay, leave the data chip upstairs in a place we can find it. We’ll come back after we eat to do the second floor.”

  “It shall be as you say. Good luck, Earth man.”

  The picture winked out.

  Daniel sighed and then swore loudly, “I can’t get his damn machine to work. Do you remember what he said about calling him?”

  Jason looked surprise and hurried over.

  “I think so,” he said and touched the star icon.

  After a moment, Norixum’s face appeared, his voice was projected from a hidden speaker somewhere.

  “So, what did you think of the Hall of Achievement?” asked Norixum, his face an unreadable mask.

  “I had some trouble figuring out this communications unit, but we have enjoyed our morning immensely. We didn’t make it to the second floor, but would like to return after getting some refreshment.”

  “I understand,” said Norixum, his voice was even and almost monotone, as usual, but Daniel felt as if the little alien were gloating.

  Jason was looking at Daniel as if he had lost his mind, but Norixum was giving instructions and the soldier knew better than to question his superior in front of someone else.

  The screen flickered off, and they sat back on the wall as they waited for Norixum to arrive and take them to lunch. Jason kicked Daniel’s foot lightly with his own and when Daniel looked at him, he tilted his head slightly and furrowed his brow.

  Daniel read the body language and nodded so that Jason would know that he was up to something.

  “I hope we can eat quickly,” Daniel said. “I think I’ve changed my mind. I would really like to see what’s upstairs.” Daniel winked as he spoke.

  “Alright,” Jason said, “but I’m going to need something good to drink if we’re going for round two here.”

  ***

  Norixum arrived and escorted them to a restaurant. For the first time since they had arrived on Tolligark, there were aliens present beyond the wait staff—in fact, Daniel was amazed at the racial diversity. There were large, thin-skinned beings whose internal organs could be seen through their almost transparent bodies. They had no visible head or legs, but were one large blob with tentacles. They wore no clothes and had no visible eyes. There were brutish looking creatures with dark brown skin and fur the color of milk chocolate on the visible parts of their bodies. Their faces were pink, with large teeth that could not be contained in their mouths. They had many eyes that were small and dark. Daniel was tempted to count the eyes, but felt it
would be rude to stare. The beings had large shoulders and long arms and legs that looked extremely powerful. There were wispy beings whose bodies seemed solid, but with smoky, almost holographic looking outer shells. Their clothes hung on the ethereal parts as though they were solid.

  There were so many strange and wonderful and frightening creatures that Daniel spent most of their meal merely gazing around the room. Norixum ordered what Daniel took to be a form of seafood. The meat appeared to be mostly raw and had a very metallic taste that Daniel did not care for. He moved the food around and ate just enough to keep his stomach from growling.

  After their meal was over, they returned to the Hall of Achievement, and Norixum left them to explore the large museum on their own. Daniel and Jason found a lift and began to look among the exhibits, which were vivid and colorful. Daniel had no idea where Coolique might have left the data chip, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack and Daniel didn’t have much patience for the task. They came to a partition that was clearly a separate display of the various worlds that had joined the Federation of Free People. Daniel led Jason into the side corridor, and they began looking at the different planets and solar systems colonized by the Tolligark. Finally they came to a display of the Tridar system and, as they entered, an automated voice began explaining the basic facts of the system. Daniel remembered that Coolique was from the Tridar system and he began looking around in earnest. It would have been so much easier to tell Jason what was going on, but he was afraid they would be overheard.

  There was a large glass case with artifacts from the Tridar system, each with small labels written in a language that Daniel could not read. Jason was clearly bored, but he was keeping his mouth shut and examining the artifacts in the case when he suddenly went rigid. He cleared his throat loudly, and Daniel turned to see what was going on.

  “Take a look at this,” Jason said, raising his eyes as he spoke.

  Daniel moved to stand beside him and began looking in the glass enclosed case. He was wondering if the chip might be inside the case and, if so, how was he supposed to get it out. And then, there it was, stuck to the glass near a strange looking bit of machinery that was surrounded by small parts. The tiny chip looked like the tiny memory cards used in cellular phones and, if a person wasn’t looking intently, seemed to be just part of the display. But the data chip was fixed to the outside of the glass display, not inside it. Jason was looking at Daniel, who nodded as discretely as possible.